Senate Bill S5370

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5370

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the state
police to have a local liaison within the New York state intelligence
center who alerts municipalities of certain suspected domestic extremism
threats

 
PURPOSE:

To require a local liaison within the New York state intelligence center

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section 214-i stating that one person within the
New York intelligence center shall be designated as local liaison

Section 2 lists that the local liaison's duties include but are not
limited to:

              

-Alerting municipalities of suspected domestic extremism threats

-Receiving information from local law enforcement regarding domestic
extremism threats, i.e. threats made on social media and activities that
may facilitate radicalization and promote violent extremism.

Section 3 states the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In response to the tragedy in Buffalo, Governor Hochul announced a much
needed expansion for the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC).
Prior to the mass shooting, the intelligence center had only one analyst
monitoring social media for potential threats across New York State.
This new unit will study domestic terrorism and extremism-armed with
technology to allow analysts to monitor the dark web and other platforms
that are known to be used by perpetrators of extremist attacks.

To support and enhance this investment, we must ensure that there is an
open line of communication with our local law enforcement to best deal
with signs of potential threats. Local law enforcement is not equipped
with the adequate resources to investigate and respond to complaints of
hate speech on social media platforms, or other dark web activities.
While municipalities need to be alerted of potential threats to best
prepare, we must also allow them to raise any virtual threats to the
attention of NYSIC. By establishing a local liaison, we can cement this
relationship and produce clear lines of communication and collaboration
between the state and municipalities.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S9582 Died in Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.